Canada Day in North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale District in 2019

If you like car shows, navy ships, climbing walls, free entertainment and kid-friendly activities, it’s the place to be on July 1st in 2019!

Lower Lonsdale on Canada Day

North Vancouver’s main Canada Day festivities take place at Waterfront Park between noon and 4:00 pm on Monday July 1st in 2019.

Waterfront Park is just a 5-minute walk west of Lonsdale Quay and the SeaBus terminal. At the park on Canada Day you’ll find free entertainment, live music on the outdoor stage, kid-friendly activities, birthday cake, hot dogs and lots of people having fun.

Also in the Lower Lonsdale area, at the Shipyards (and so just a 10-minute walk from the park), there is a car show. Also close by, at Shipbuilders’ Pier, on July 1st in 2019, HMCS Winnipeg is docked for the day and you can tour the naval ship. And at Lonsdale Quay, in the afternoon, there is free live music in the plaza.

If you’re looking for a variety of free things to do on Canada Day in 2019, North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale District is a great place to go. It’s a beautiful spot and there’s so much going on!

The Day Trippers at Waterfront Park

Canada Day at Waterfront Park

The Canada Day festivities at Waterfront Park are exceptional and highly recommended. Except for the food and vendor products for sale, pretty much everything is free! That includes the balloon animals, face painting, climbing wall, bouncy castle and other fun activities. It also includes some great bands and other live entertainment.

Performers at the Waterfront Park venue in 2019 include Marcus Mosely (of The Sojourners) and The Day Trippers (which is also a great local band).

TIP: To get to Waterfront Park from the SeaBus, turn left (i.e., head west) as you exit the terminal. The park is just a 5-minute walk away. That’s where you’ll find the main festivities between noon and 4:00 pm.

THANKS ROTARY AND EVENT SPONSORS!

The Canada Day festivities at Waterfront Park are proudly hosted by the Rotary Club of Lions Gate which is a great service club based on the North Shore.

Canada Day at the Shipyards

In addition to all the afternoon festivities at Waterfront Park, on Canada Day in 2019 there is also a car show at Shipbuilders’ Square and a Canadian naval ship at the pier.

The car show celebrates its 7th year at the Shipyards and runs from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. HMCS Winnipeg, meanwhile, is a Canadian naval frigate. It happens to be in town on July 1st this year and is offering free tours between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.

HMCS Winnipeg at Shipbuilders’ Pier

Canada Day at Lonsdale Quay

Not only are there cool things to see and do at both Waterfront Park and the Shipyards, but there is also live music at Lonsdale Quay on Canada Day in 2019.

Karen Fowlie & The Originals perform from 1:00 until 3:00 pm. The VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir then takes the stage from 3:15 until 5:15.

Tips and Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most out of your Canada Day experience in Lower Lonsdale and the Shipyards.

TIP #1: If you like collectible cars, naval ships, the Beatles, Gospel music, climbing walls, balloon animals, bouncy castles and other free family-friendly activities, and you want to enjoy it all in an area with spectacular scenery, then check out the above festivities on July 1st in 2019. Lower Lonsdale is without a doubt one of our top venue picks for Canada Day!

TIP #2: North Vancouver also has a Canada Day Parade. It starts at 10:00 am and goes west along 13th Street from Grand Boulevard, north up Lonsdale Avenue and then west again along 17th Street to Mahon Park. It’s a great parade and fun for young families.

TIP #3: If spending the full day in North Vancouver, we recommend heading to either the parade or the Shipyards first and then to Waterfront Park in the afternoon. The city’s main festivities take place at Waterfront Park and the headliner bands there are the Marcus Mosely Chorale at shortly after noon, and then The Day Trippers (a Beatles tribute band) from around 3:00 until 4:00 pm. Especially if you have young children, Waterfront Park is definitely where you’ll want to spend the afternoon.

TIP #4: If you like African-American Gospel-style music, then, in addition to the Marcus Mosely Chorale, you’ll also want to check out the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir. The Day Trippers finish their Beatles tunes at 4 o’clock, which is when the Waterfront Park festivities wrap up too. Head over to Lonsdale Quay right after and you’ll be in time to catch an hour or so of the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir.

TIP #5: The line-up for tours of the HMCS Winnipeg are likely shortest in the morning. That’s not guaranteed, but most people will likely be at the parade until between at least 11:00 am and 12:00 pm.

TIP #6: The public market at Lonsdale Quay closes at 7:00 pm, so check it out after the festivities finish elsewhere.

TIP #7: Fireworks take place across the water by Canada Place in Vancouver starting at about 10:30 pm. Great locations to watch from include Waterfront Park, Lonsdale Quay and the Shipyards in North Vancouver. The views are good and the crowds much less crazy than in downtown Vancouver.

TIP #8: If hanging out in Lower Lonsdale until the fireworks, enjoy the evening and explore the area. There are lots of great bars and restaurants in the neighbourhood.

Information on this website is accurate to the best of our ability at the time of writing, but actual details may vary. Vancouver's Best Places does not accept responsibility for loss or inconvenience due to errors. For the most up-to-date information see relevant official websites.

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